Obama Lists His Top 10 Favorite Things For 2015

This is his David Letterman list. No, really. This is how he uses his weekly address

Hi, everybody. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Not just for spreading holiday cheer – but also for list makers. You’ve got wish lists; Santa’s list; and of course, a blizzard of year-in-review lists. So I decided to get in on the action.

As a nation, we face big challenges. But in the spirit of 2015 retiree David Letterman, here – in no particular order – are my top 10 things that happened in 2015 that should make every American optimistic about 2016.

What are they?

Number ten: The economy. Over the past 12 months, our businesses have created 2.5 million new jobs. In all, they’ve added 13.7 million new jobs over a 69-month streak of job growth. And the unemployment rate has fallen to 5 percent – the lowest it’s been in almost eight years.

The number of people who have dropped out of the jobs market in despair is at a historic high. Jobs for those 18-25 are barely existent. Black unemployment is also at historic highs. Wages have been stagnant. The kinds of jobs being created are low wage, often service and base retail ones, and often part-time.

Number nine: More Americans are getting health coverage. The rate of the uninsured in America dropped below 10 percent for the first time ever. In all, 17.6 million people and climbing have gained coverage as the Affordable Care Act has taken effect.

Yet, a goodly chunk cannot afford to pay the deductibles to use this insurance that many are forced to purchase. If you buy car insurance, and cannot afford to pay the deductible to fix the car, what do you actually have?

Number eight: America’s global leadership on climate change. Last week, in Paris, nearly 200 countries came together to set the course for a low-carbon future. And it was only possible because America led with clean energy here at home and strong diplomacy around the world.

This one gave me the morning giggles. What he’s really saying is his leadership. And his leadership led to an agreement that is non-binding, voluntary, and has no force of law. Furthermore, he will never submit this agreement for ratification by the Legislative branch. Doesn’t say much about the agreement nor his leadership.

Number seven: Progress in the Americas. We turned the page on an outdated, half-century old policy by re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and reopening embassies in both our countries, allowing us to build greater ties between Americans and Cubans.

by Sir John Hawkins

John Hawkins's book 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know is filled with lessons that newly minted adults need in order to get the most out of life. Gleaned from a lifetime of trial, error, and writing it down, Hawkins provides advice everyone can benefit from in short, digestible chapters.

Number six: Preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already dismantled thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium.

You mean the deal that simply kicks Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions down the road, sorta signed by a regime that has violated sanctions twice in the past few months? One that will allow Iran to restrict inspectors from inspecting? That one?

Number five: Standing strong against terrorism. Even as we continue to grieve over the attack in San Bernardino, we’re leading a global coalition and hitting ISIL harder than ever. In Syria and Iraq, ISIL is losing territory, and we’re not going to stop until we destroy this terrorist organization.

Absurd. Just absurd.

Number four: A 21st century trade deal that makes sure our businesses can sell goods “Made in America” across the Asia-Pacific.

Even a bunch of Democrats were against this, notably Bernie Sanders. It really isn’t that good for the American worker, and when Bernie Sanders quite a bit of sense, yikes!

Number three: A pair of Christmas miracles in Washington! This week, Congress passed a bipartisan budget that invests in middle-class priorities, keeps our military the strongest in the world, and takes the threat of shutdowns and manufactured crises off the table for 2016. Plus, I signed a bipartisan education bill into law to help our students graduate prepared for college and their future careers.

Fortunately, those students will have no jobs, since they will be taken by illegal aliens and imported foreign workers, thanks to the deal, so the students can spend more time getting an education!

Number two: Love won. No matter who you are, here in America, you’re free to marry the person you love, because the freedom to marry is now the law in all fifty states.

So, Obama just gave the green light for bigamy, polygamy, and child marriage. Hey, love is love, right? BTW, it’s not actually “the law”, it’s a court ruling that overruled State laws and constitutional amendments.

And the number one reason I’m optimistic going into 2016: It’s you—the American people. All of this progress is because of you—because of workers rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done, and entrepreneurs starting new businesses. Because of teachers and health workers and parents—all of us taking care of each other. Because of our incredible men and women in uniform, serving to protect us all. Because, when we’re united as Americans, there’s nothing that we cannot do.

Interesting. This guy is the most divisive president in history. He works hard to isolate and demean his political opponents.